Billard game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A billiard game apparatus is provided for enabling a player to play a unique and unusual game of billiards on a billiard table. The apparatus includes a source of &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;black light&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; radiation directed onto the playing surface. The apparatus has a plurality of special billiard balls having a coating or layer (exterior, sublayer or inlay) of luminescent material that is responsive to black light to emit visible light. When the balls are placed on the table surface, they emit visible light and appear as if they are supported in an invisible plane with the balls being highly contrasted with respect to background objects. A special cue stick is provided having a luminescent coating adjacent its forward tip which is responsive to black light so that the player is able to more accurately stroke the billiard balls and visually observe their relative motions. It is preferable to pulse the black light source to obtain a stroboscopic effect in which the movement of the balls and cue stick produce a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;trail&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; image that is visible to enable the player to concentrate more fully and to execute billiard shots more accurately.

' United States Patent [191 Davidson et al.

[4 1 Nov. 4, 1975 BILLARD GAME APPARATUS [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1974 [21]Appl. No.: 501,059

[52] US. Cl 273/3 R; 240/225; 273/9; 273/12; 273/59 R; 273/68; 273/DIG.24 [51] Int. Cl. A63D 15/00; A63D 15/08 [58] Field of Search 273/2, 3 R,5 R, 14, 127 R, 273/DIG. 24, 8, 9, 59 R, 12, 68, 59 A; 40/327, 134;156/67; 240/225 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,042,398 6/1953 France273/127 R Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-R. T.Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Wells, St. John & Roberts [57]ABSTRACT A billiard game apparatus is provided for enabling a player toplay a unique and unusual game of billiards on a billiard table. Theapparatus includes a source of black light radiation directed onto theplaying surface. The apparatus has a plurality of special billiard ballshaving a coating or layer (exterior, sublayer or inlay) of luminescentmaterial that is responsive to black light to emit visible light. Whenthe balls are placed on the table surface, they emit visible light andappear as if they are supported in an invisible plane with the ballsbeing highly contrasted with respect to background objects. A specialcue stick is provided having a luminescent coating adjacent its forwardtip which is responsive to black light so that the player is able tomore accurately stroke the billiard balls and visually observe theirrelative motions. It is preferable to pulse the black light source toobtain a stroboscopic effect in which the movement of the balls and cuestick produce a trail image that is visible to enable the player toconcentrate more fully and to execute billiard shots more accurately.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 2 US.Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,917,264

BILLARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to billiard games.

Billiard games are played utilizing a billiard table having a horizontalplaying surface and a plurality of spherical billiard balls supportedfor free rolling movement thereon. One of the balls, designated the cueutilizing the resilient rail, commonly provided about the periphery ofthe playing surface.

It is often a difficult procedure to learn the proper angles fordirecting the cue ball toward the remaining balls or the rail so that itstrikes the balls or rail at a proper angle to affect a desiredresultant movement of the target ball. The angle of incidence and theangle of rebound are often difficult to distinguish by following one ormore balls, as they move along the surface. Frequently it is difficultfor the player, particularly a beginner to fully concentrate while theballs are moving on the angle of incidence and the angle of rebound toproperly execute a billiard shot.

The present invention serves to eliminate the abovedescribed problems byproviding a billiard game apparatus wherein the billiard balls arecoated with a luminescent material and exposed to ultraviolet rays inthe black light" band. The balls thereby emit a luminescent glow in adarkened room. The ultraviolet light source is comprised of an electricdischarge lamp that operates on alternating current to generate pulsesof ultraviolet light. The pulsing creates a stroboscopic effect on themoving balls and therefore creates the image of a trail or blurredstreak extending behind the moving balls. The trail or streak extendsalong the path of movement for each moving ball. This trail or trailsmay be effectively utilized in directly determining the angles ofincidence and angles of rebound of one or more balls moving on thetable. Such a feature enables the beginner to more readily becomeproficient in the execution of the billiard shots. Further, theluminescent glow of the billiard balls produces an amusing effect sincein a darkened room, the balls appear to be suspended on an invisibleplanar surface.

It is not claimed to be new to provide game balls with phosphorescentcoatings to enable the balls to more readily be located in the dark. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 1,622,421 to C. W. Coffield discloses a golf ballthat is coated with a phosphorescent material such as radium paint thatwill glow in the dark. The coating enables the golfer to find a lostball in the darkness.

U.S. Pat. No. 716,645 to W. Ransom discloses a table-tennis ball havinga luminous exterior. A similar arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No.280,807 to A. D. F. Farley that shows phosphorescent strips provided oncroquet balls and croquet mallets. The luminescent covering on the ballsenables them to be easily seen when covered or hidden by grass orleaves, and particularly to enable the game to be played in darkness.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a billiardgame apparatus for enabling a unique and unusual game of billiards to beplayed wherein movement of the billiard balls may be accurately de- 2tected through the visual image of a trail behind the ball.

It is a further object to provide such an apparatus that may be usedwith conventional billiard tables and accessories, wherein the apparatusmay be supplied as a kit that is adapted to be incorporated with anexisting conventional table and cue stick, the balls being supplied withthe kit.

It is a further object to provide such an apparatus wherein a source ofultraviolet light operates to emit ultraviolet waves of a frequency notdamaging to the human eye or skin.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description which, taken with the accompanying drawings,disclose a preferred from of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred form of the presentinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a billiard table for use with theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a billiard ball included with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of one end of a cue stick utilized with thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevational fragmentary sectioned view of a billiard tableutilizing luminescent strips and luminescent indicating dots of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectioned view of the billiard ball illustratedin FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the path illusionprovided by a billiard ball as would be evident upon movement under anultraviolet light source such as that described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The billiard gameapparatus of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawingsand is generally designated therein by the reference numeral 9. Billiardgame apparatus 9 is intended for use in playing a unique game ofbilliards on a billiard table such as the pocket billiard table 10 shownin FIG. 1.

Table 10 includes a horizontal rectangular playing surface 12.Peripheral resilient rails 13 surround surface 10 except as interruptedby a plurality of pockets 14. Tables without pockets 14 may also be usedwith the present apparatus 9.

Basically, apparatus 9 of the present invention is comprised of aplurality of special billiard balls 21, at least one special cue stick25, and radiation means 31 for emitting ultraviolet radiation in theblack light band.

More particularly, billiard balls 21 are provided with a luminescentcoating 23 (FIG. 5) that is responsive to black light radiation. Balls21 may include a conventional phenolic core with the luminescent coatingapplied as the spherical exterior surface. Coating 23 may be comprisedof a phosphorescent or fluorescent material which, when exposed to blacklight, produces a luminescent glow (emits visible light). Normally, theplaying surface 12 is covered by a woolen or felt cloth which will notproduce luminescent light under black light rays. Balls 21 willtherefore appear as distinct glowing spheres on the indistinct surfacewhen exposed to black light in a darkened room to provide for a verysharp contrast between the balls and the table surface.

3 in a very dark room, the balls 21 will appear to be supported on aninvisible plane, thereby creating an unusual and amusing effect for theplayers as though they were playing the billiard game in space.

Radiation means 31 is comprised of a mercury vapor electric dischargelamp commonly known as a black light as shown at 32. Black light 32 isdesigned to emit radiation within the black light bank of theultraviolet spectrum, between 320 and 400 nanometers. Such black lightis partially visible to the human eye as a faint dark colored glow. Thewave length (320 to 400 nanometers) is such that no physical damage isdone to human tissues exposed thereto. Ultraviolet rays of shorter than320 nanometers can cause possible damage to the human skin and produce asunburn effect to the exposed skin tissues. We have therefore found thatthe partiallyvisible' radiation of the black light band are particularlysuited for the intended use of the present apparatus.

We have also found that an electric discharge lamp operated byalternating current to produce black light ultraviolet rays isespecially suitable to produce a distinct image effect as the balls 21move on surface 12. Such lamps produce pulses or variation in lightoutput. The pulse frequency of alternating current electric dischargelamp is twice that of the input frequency. Therefore such a lamp willpulse at 120 times with a typical 60 Hz. input frequency. This variationis manually too fast to be detected by the human eye. However, when anobject is moved rapidly through the pulsating black light, a blurredtrail illusion is produced behind the object along the path of travel.This effect, sometimes referred to as stroboscopic effect, isgraphically illustrated in FIG. 6.

The stroboscopic effect is utilized to indicate the angle of incidenceand angle rebound of a ball 21 as it strikes other balls 21 or rails 13.The ability to actually see these angles is of great benefit to theplayers. Since the angles are distinctly defined, the player may morereadily learn the exact effect(s) produced by one ball 21 strikinganother at a desired angle, or a ball rebounding from the rail 13.Additionally, it is much easier for the player to more fully concentrateon the execution of a billiard shot because of the high contrast andtrail effect. A beginner can become more proficient in a shorter periodof time. The. contrast and trail effect provide for a more exciting andstimulating billiard game.

Additionally, the apparatus may include reference lines produced alongthe rails 13 by mounting an elongated strip of luminescent tape 34 thatis responsive to black light about the surface periphery along rails 13.The strips may be provided to extend between adjacent pockets 14 tothereby indicate the pocket location in a darkened room. The tape strips34 include a luminescent side 35 and an adhesive side 37. Adhesive side37 enables the luminescent tape strips to be adhered to the rails 13 asindicated in FIGS. 4 and 6.

A plurality of luminescent dots or diamonds 38 are also provided,including a luminescent side 40 and an adhesive side 41. Dots 38 may beselectively mounted to the table outside of the playing surface where,conventionally, such indicating markers are usually located.

The apparatus includes a cue stick 25 having a ball engaging tip 27 at afrontcue stick end 28. A luminescent coating or sleeve 30 is providedadjacent tip 27 that is responsive to black light. This luminescent por-4 tion enables the user to accurately determine the. angular position ofthe cue stick in relation to the position of a ball desired to be struckwith tip 27. The proper angle of alignment may be'determined by movingthe luminescent strip backward and forward along the intended path oftravel of the ball to be struck,.before actually striking the ball. Thismovement, like movement of the balls 21, will produce a trail imagealong the path of moving portion 30. This path indicates the directionof movement that will be produced as tip 27 strikes the ball 21. It isamazing how much more accurately one can execute a billiard shot byutilizing this apparatus.

In operation, the black light source or means 31 is located or mountedabove the playing surface 12 so that the entire surface may be exposedto ultraviolet rays emitting therefrom. Tape strips 34 are placed alongthe rails 13 at elevational positions thereon so as not to interferewith the resilient action of the rails. Dots 38 may also be placed overexisting reference markers on the pool table and, as shown in FIG. 1, onreference points of the playing surface 12. The luminescent billiardballs'21 are then placed on the playing surface 12. The billiard gamemay then be played according to the desires of the players.

The above description has been given by way of example and is notintended to restrict the scope of the present invention, such scopebeing defined in the fol-. lowing claims.

What we claim is:

1. A billiard game apparatus for use in playing a game of billiards on abilliard table, said billiard table having a playing surface, peripheralcushions defining. the

boundaries of said playing surface and ball pockets intermediate thecushions about said playing surface, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of billiard balls supportable on a playing surface, saidplurality of billiard balls including a cue ball and object balls, eachball including means which emits luminescent light in the visiblespectrum of such intensity as to be clearly visible to the naked eyewhen subjected to sufficient ultraviolet rays in the black light band; i

a boundary indentifying means adjacent substantially the entire lengthof said peripheral cushionsinten mediate said ball pockets to identifythe boundary of the playing surface, to identify the location of saidperipheral rebound cushions, and to indicate the location of said ball.pockets between said boundary identifying means; 5

said boundary identifying means emitting luminescent light in thevisible spectrum of such intensity as to be clearly visible to the nakedeye when subjected to sufficient ultraviolet'rays in the black lightband;

radiation means adjacent the playing surface for directing ultravioletrays of the black light band over the entire playing surface toluminesce the cue ball and object balls supported on said surface and toluminesce the boundary identifying means without visually illuminatingthe surface to enable the player to visually observe the billiard ballsand their movement with an unusual contrast and effect; and

a cue stick having a forward end with a tip thereon for striking the cueball to propel the cue ball against atleast one ofthe object ballstodirectxat least one of said object balls into one of the pockets, saidforward end having a portion thereof including means which emitsluminescent light in the 5 visible spectrum of such intensity as to beclearly a plurality of reference dots h desired locations visible to thenaked eye when subjected to suffialong the p phery f the playingsurface, h d

including means which emits luminescent light in the visible spectrum ofsuch intensity as to be clearly visible to the naked eye when subjectedto cient ultraviolet rays in the black light band to enable the playerto visually observe the movement of the cue stick in relation to SaidChe ball as the Cue sufficient ultraviolet rays in the black light bandto ball is struck by the one stick and thereby concenenable the playerto more accurately execute banktrate more fully on the execution of abilliard shot ihg Shots against the cushions Without being utilizing theperipheral cushions as located by the "acted by background objects'luminescent boundary identifying means and fmu 3. The game apparatus setout in claim 1 wherein said radiation means is comprised of an electricdischarge ther uuhzmg the lummescem Object balls lamp powered byalternating current to emit pulsating 2. The billiard game apparatus setout in claim 1 furblack fi ht f a desired frequency ther comprising:

1. A billiard game apparatus for use in playing a game of billiards on abilliard table, said billiard table having a playing surface, peripheralcushions defining the boundaries of said playing surface and ballpockets intermediate the cushions about said playing surface, saidapparatus comprising: a plurality of billiard balls supportable on aplaying surface, said plurality of billiard balls including a cue balland object balls, each ball including means which emits luminescentlight in the visible spectrum of such intensity as to be clearly visibleto the naked eye when subjected to sufficient ultraviolet rays in theblack light band; a boundary indentifying means adjacent substantiallythe entire length of said peripheral cushions intermediate said ballpockets to identify the boundary of the playing surface, to identify thelocation of said peripheral rebound cushions, and to indicate thelocation of said ball pockets between said boundary identifying means;said boundary identifying means emitting luminescent light in thevisible spectrum of such intensity as to be clearly visible to the nakedeye when subjected to sufficient ultraviolet rays in the black lightband; radiation means adjacent the playing surface for directingultraviolet rays of the black light band over the entire playing surfaceto luminesce the cue ball and object balls supported on said surface andto luminesce the boundary identifying means without visuallyilluminating the surface to enable the player to visually observe thebilliard balls and their movement with an unusual contrast and effect;and a cue stick having a forward end with a tip thereon for striking thecue ball to propel the cue ball against at least one of the object ballsto direct at least one of said object balls into one of the pockets,said forward end having a portion thereof including means which emitsluminescent light in the visible spectrum of such intensity as to beclearly visible to the naked eye when subjected to sufficientultraviolet rays in the black light band to enable the player tovisually observe the movement of the cue stick in relation to said cueball as the cue ball is struck by the cue stick and thereby concentratemore fully on the execution of a billiard shot utilizing the peripheralcushions as located by the luminescent boundary identifying means andfurther utilizing the luminescent object balls.
 2. The billiard gameapparatus set out in claim 1 further comprising: a plurality ofreference dots at desired locations along the periphery of the playingsurface, each dot including means which emits luminescent light in thevisible spectrum of such intensity as to be clearly visible to the nakedeye when subjected to sufficient ultraviolet rays in the black lightband to enable the player to more accurately execute banking shotsagainst the cushions without being distracted by background objects. 3.The game apparatus set out in claim 1 wherein said radiation means iscomprised of an electric discharge lamp powered by alternating currentto emit pulsating black light of a desired frequency.